MPs query US 'surge' strategy

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A report by the Commons foreign affairs committee delivered a pessimistic verdict on Washington's bid to restore peace by committing 30,000 extra troops.

"It is too early to provide a definitive assessment of the US 'surge' but it does not look likely to succeed," the MPs concluded.

"We believe that the success of this strategy will ultimately ride on whether Iraq's politicians are able to reach agreement on a number of key issues."

It called on the British government to set out what actions it was taking to help foster political reconciliation amid growing pressure to withdraw coalition forces.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is due to announce his future strategy to Parliament in October, shortly after the top US general in Iraq delivers his verdict on the "surge". US president George Bush is coming under intense pressure to withdraw US forces.

Welcoming growing engagement with Iran over the situation, the committee's report also demanded to know what evidence the UK had the neighbouring country was supporting terrorism.

The committee also hit out at aspects of the UK and allies' approach to the Palestinian situation and called on former Prime Minister Tony Blair to engage with Hamas.

It said the collapse of the unity government had been hastened by the failure to relax a financial boycott imposed after the election victory of Hamas. British ministers should "urgently consider ways of engaging politically with moderate elements within Hamas", it said.

And the MPs called for Mr Blair to be given a wider mandate in his new role as envoy for the "Quartet" of peace negotiators - the US, United Nations, European Union and Russia.